Career night hopes to spark environmentalism

NEW BEDFORD — Alicia Pimental could not wait to leave SouthCoast when she graduated from New Bedford High School in 2002.

Ariel Wittenberg

NEW BEDFORD — Alicia Pimental could not wait to leave SouthCoast when she graduated from New Bedford High School in 2002.

"I had no intention of ever coming back," she said.

But, having developed an interest in environmental issues in college, Pimental is now back in the region and working as the communications and outreach manager at the Buzzards Bay Coalition in downtown New Bedford.

"Working from my home bay is a vast improvement," said Pimental, who previously worked on the Chesapeake Bay. "I didn't really appreciate that before."

Pimental and two coalition colleagues and fellow New Bedford High School alumna are hoping to spark an environmental interest in local students while they are still in the region.

On Thursday, the coalition will host a "Career Night" for high school and college students interested in environmental and nonprofit careers. At the event, Pimental, coalition environmental educator Margo Connolly and coalition restoration ecologist Sara Quintal will talk about their journey from New Bedford High students to environmentalists.

"The idea is to show people who want to be where we are how we got to this point and how they can get here," Pimental said.

Connolly, who studied biology and environmental science at the University of Pennsylvania before getting her master's degree in environmental education, said her experiences at New Bedford High were integral to her journey.

"What I learned in high school science was better than anything I learned in college," Connolly, who graduated high school in 2000, said. "My chemistry teacher always told us that we could do it and that we deserved a good education. That's something I hope to pass on."

Representatives from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Bristol Community College will also be at the event. The coalition will also be discussing paid internship opportunities.

Pimental said students don't necessarily have to be interested in science to get involved with the coalition.

"I've never been a scientist, but my career is explaining science to people and I love it," she said. "The key is to not sell yourself short and to be open-minded.

Storey Duff, who works in the coalition's development department, said she first became involved with the organization by volunteering to test water quality.

"Even if you aren't interested in the pure science of it, it's a great way to be outside and get to know your community,"